Olga Kern facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olga Kern
Olga Kern
Background information
Birth name	Olga Vladimirovna Pushechnikova
Born	(1975-04-23) 23 April 1975 (age 50) Moscow, Russia
Genres	Classical
Instruments	Piano
Labels	Harmonia Mundi

Olga Kern is a famous classical pianist. She was born in Russia in 1975. In 2016, she also became a citizen of the United States. She is known for her amazing piano playing.

Olga Kern's Early Life and Music Journey

Olga Kern was born in Moscow, Russia, on April 23, 1975. Her family has a strong connection to music. Both of her parents are pianists. Her great-grandmother, Vera Pushechnikova, was a famous singer.

Olga started playing the piano very early. She began lessons at age five. Her first teacher was Professor Evgeny Timakin. She gave her first concert in Moscow when she was just seven years old. When she was 11, she won her first international competition. This was the Concertino Praga Competition in Czechoslovakia. At 17, she won first prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition.

Olga Kern's Career as a Pianist

Starting Her Professional Music Career

Olga Kern continued her piano studies at the Moscow Conservatory. She also studied in Italy. As her career grew, she started using her mother's last name, Kern. This became her professional name. From 1989 to 1994, she received a special scholarship. This was from the "New Names" Foundation.

Winning the Van Cliburn Competition

Olga Kern became very famous in 2001. She won the Gold Medal at the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This was a huge achievement. She was the first woman in over 30 years to win this award. She shared the win with Stanislav Ioudenitch.

Her journey at the competition was featured in several documentaries. These include Playing on the Edge (2001) and They Came to Play (2008). Another film, Olga's Journey (2003), was made about her after her big win.

Olga Kern: Teacher and Judge

Besides performing, Olga Kern also teaches music. She holds special classes called master classes. She has taught at places like Yale University. She has also been a judge for many international piano competitions. These include events in Paris, Scotland, and Norway. In 2016, she was the main judge for the Seventh Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition.

Olga Kern is also a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. From 2006 to 2011, she was the artistic director of the Cape Town Summer Festival. In 2017, she joined the piano teaching staff at the Manhattan School of Music.

Olga Kern International Piano Competition

In 2016, Olga Kern started her own piano competition. It is called the Olga Kern International Piano Competition. It is for pianists aged 18 to 32. The competition happens every three years in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its goal is to help young pianists start international careers. Olga Kern is the artistic director and head judge.

The first competition was held in November 2016. Twenty-two pianists from 14 countries competed. The winner received $11,000. They also got a professional recording and tours in Europe and the United States. The mayor of Albuquerque even declared November 20 "Olga Kern Day."

Olga Kern International Piano Competition Awards

Olga Kern's "Aspiration" Foundation

In 2012, Olga Kern started a foundation. She created it with her brother, Vladimir Kern. He is a conductor and composer. Their foundation is called "Aspiration." It helps young musicians around the world. It gives them financial and artistic support.

Awards and Recognitions for Olga Kern

Olga Kern has won many awards throughout her career. Here are some of her notable achievements:

Olga Kern's Music Recordings

Olga Kern has released many recordings of her piano performances. Here are some of her albums:

Olga Kern's Personal Life

Olga Kern lives in New York City. She has a son named Vladislav Kern. He is also a talented piano player. Vladislav graduated from Juilliard’s Pre-College School in May 2016.